Coca-Cola has seen population growth in South Texas over the last few years.
Now, a San Antonio bottling facility is expanding to meet increasing demand.
Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages announced a $42 million, 170,000-square-foot expansion on Friday.
The Mexico-based bottling company packages Coca-Cola products for South and Central Texas and has added 80 employees as it brings more warehouse space and another production line to bear.
The company’s President Susanne Brady-Lusk said the expansion increases their workforce to around 900 at its Eastside facility, which sits beside the Frost Bank Center between Commerce and Houston streets.
Brady-Lusk said many roles have been filled as the new production line prepares for full service. A majority of the new jobs were for staffing the warehouse, she added.
The expansion included new technologies, such as equipment for forklift operators and charging stations. The production line would be significantly faster, she added, and newer equipment will eventually allow more cans to be packaged.
“There is a ramp up. There’s a learning in capabilities. There’s learning in new machinery,” Brady-Lusk said. “But we are almost past that point now in this facility. It’s been great. It’s been going well.”
It’s not the only investment the beverage company is making in the region. Brady-Lusk said the company is upgrading facilities in Fort Worth and is in the process or already completed new facilities in Waco, Houston and Oklahoma City.
Several San Antonio officials hoped the company’s investment in San Antonio would go beyond the $42 million expansion.
“This whole area is going to be reimagined as we look at what’s going to happen with the, I’ll call it, the new Frost Bank Center, the expansion of the rodeo and the things that me and my colleagues have envisioned for this area,” said state Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (D-San Antonio), who represents the area through District 120. “I am so proud that Coca-Cola is going to be a part of that reimagining, as you’ve made these major investments here.”
Eastside officials have been sketching out a plan for the Frost Bank Center as the Spurs depart for a new downtown arena. Voters approved around $193 million for redeveloping the Eastside facility, which could include renovations for the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.
Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert (Pct. 4) was even more explicit in his pitch to the company, advocating for investments along the nearby Salado Creek.
“I can envision along Salado Creek an area where people can watch the games, maybe with a Coca-Cola beverage,” he said.
Brady-Lusk said ACCSWB had contracts with local venues to provide beverages and had been involved in events in San Antonio around the FIFA World Cup. They were listening to other ideas, she said.
“We’re open to every opportunity. We’ll listen to our local leaders. We’ll listen to our local stakeholders, and we love to partner in every community that we operate,” she said. “We’re all ears. If the opportunity fits the pillars that we support as Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, we’re happy to participate.”
